<hr /></p><p>The Cass County Sheriff&#x92;s Office is planning to begin its next Sheriff&#x92;s Citizens&#x92; Academy Feb. 15.</p><p>The Academy, initiated by Sheriff Dwight Diehl, is a free eight-week course that gives citizens an in-depth look and hands-on training into the career of law enforcement at the sheriff&#x92;s office.</p><p>Citizens will be instructed by deputies on the subjects of patrol, jail, communications, investigations, court and community policing. </p><p>Courses are held on Wednesday nights from 6:30 p.m. until approximately 9:30 p.m. Each week a new topic will be introduced and discussed.</p><p>Citizens will also have the opportunity to ride along with a patrol deputy, and work with jail deputies and communication officers. This enables them to observe firsthand how the sheriff&#x92;s office handles incidents, according to Sheriff&#x92;s Office Communications Officer Kevin Tieman. </p><p>Participants must be 18 years of age or older, have no felony or serious misdemeanor convictions and must be a resident or business owner in Cass County.</p><p> The Sheriff&#x92;s Citizens&#x92; Academy is limited to 20 persons. Individuals interested in attending the academy should visit <a href="http://www.cassmosheriff.org">www.cassmosheriff.org</a> or contact Tieman at 816-380-8615.